Method for downloading content from a server onto a recording medium as well as recording medium being suitable therefor

ABSTRACT

A method for transferring content from a server ( 2 ) onto a recording medium ( 14 ), said server ( 2 ) being accessible via a communication network ( 4 ), comprises the following steps:
     a) connecting said recording medium ( 14 ) to a networkable device ( 3 ),   b) establishing a connection between the networkable device ( 3 ) and said server ( 2 ) via said communication network ( 4 ), and   c) transferring content from said server ( 2 ) onto said recording medium ( 14 ) via said networkable device ( 3 ),
 
wherein at least one of steps b) and c) is managed by an application which is provided on said recording medium ( 14 ) and which is activated or is activatable after said recording medium ( 14 ) has been connected to said networkable device ( 3 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of and claims the benefitof priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 from U.S. application Ser. No.11/408,942, filed Apr. 24, 2006, the entire contents of which isincorporated herein by reference and which is based upon and claims thebenefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from European PatentApplication No. 05008893.9, filed Apr. 22, 2005.

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a method for downloading content being storedin a database of a server onto a recording medium and to a recordingmedium being suitable to perform said method.

Internet media downloads, for example music data downloads or video datadownloads have become very popular in recent years. However, currentdownload procedures are still very complicated. First, a user has tofind an internet download platform which offers the music data or videodata he wants to download. Second, the user usually has to download asoftware program needed for performing the download procedures onto hisdownloading device, for example a personal computer or a handheld, andto install said software program on his downloading device. Third, theuser has to register himself. Usually, the registration procedurerequires to transmit sensitive details like credit card numbers via theinternet to a registration device. Fourth, the user can start todownload music data or video data by starting the software program whichhe has installed before. Last, the downloaded content has to be storedon the target recording medium like a CD (compact disk) or a portableMP3 player; to do this, usually a disk burn process or a data transferprocess is necessary.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method fordownloading content via a communication network, in particular via theinternet, which, compared to the downloading method described above, ismore transparent and more easy to handle by an unexperienced user.

In order to solve this problem, this application discusses a method fordownloading content. Further, discusses a recording medium and a server.A backup method and a computer program product are also discussed.

According to the present invention, a method for transferring contentfrom a server onto a recording medium, the server being accessible via acommunication network, comprises the following steps:

a) connecting said recording medium to a networkable device,

b) establishing a connection between the networkable device and theserver via the communication network, and

c) transferring content from the server onto said recording medium viathe networkable device,

wherein at least one of steps b) and c) is managed by an applicationwhich is provided on the recording medium and which is activated or isactivatable after said recording medium has been connected to thenetworkable device.

The networkable device may for example be a device having functionalityfor communicating with the internet or intranet or for communicatingwith several types of networks at the same time. Generally, theinvention can be used in conjunction with any type of network, forexample an intranet, an IEEE 1394 network, or the like. The networkabledevice may for example be a personal computer, a mobile phone or ahandheld device having internet access, respectively.

The recording medium may for example be a “pure” memory device like a CD(compact disk), a DVD (digital versatile disk), a hybrid CD, a blue raydisk, a hard disk, a memory stick, a memory card or an EPROM (erasableprogrammable read-only memory). All suitable CD-, blue ray disk-, hybridCD- or DVD formats may be used. In particular, CD-ROM or DVD-ROM formatsmay be used. “Write once” (CD-R, DVD-R) formats or “write many” (CDRW,DVDRW) formats may be employed. In addition, the recording medium may bea part of a “non pure” memory device like a handheld, a portable mediaplayer (which may for example be optical media based, chip media basedor magneto-optical based) like a MP2/3/4 player, a mobile phone or thelike. The term “MP2/3/4 player” in this context in particular means aportable computing device having an area of read-write memory (forexample a semiconductor memory or a Hard disk (HDD) memory) and havingat least one software and/or hardware codec (coder-decoder) forreplaying data files. Such devices have become generally known as MP3players. The data files may represent audio and/or video or other mediaand may include for example formats such as MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, MP3,ATRAC™, WMA, WAV, JPEG, TIFF, AVI or PCM files.

The application managing the establishment of the connection between thenetworkable device and the server and the process of downloading contentfrom the server is preferably realized as a software program. Thesoftware program is stored on the recording medium itself. In case thatthe recording medium is a “pure” memory device, the application is readout of the recording medium and executed on the networkable device.Alternatively, if the recording medium is part of a “non pure” memorydevice (for example a handheld or a MP2/3/4 player), the application maybe read out of the recording medium and executed on the device itself(which is of course only possible if the device shows the necessarycomputing functionality in order to execute the application). In thelatter case, the application may for example be realized in form of adigital signal processor “DSP” (in this case the application does nothave to be read out from the memory device; rather, the application isexecuted within the DSP), an EPROM unit which is removably attached tothe device, or the like, i.e. in form of a “hardware extension” of thedevice.

Preferably, the application is activated automatically when a recordingmedium is connected to the networkable device. If the recording mediumis for example a recordable CD, and the networkable device is a personalcomputer having internet access and a CD player/CD burner, theapplication being stored on the CD may be read out from the CD andexecuted on the PC automatically after the CD has been inserted into theCD player/CD burner.

In a general sense, the term “connecting the recording medium to anetworkable device” means to enable the networkable device to write dataonto the recording medium and/or to read data (for example theapplication data) from the recording medium. For example, the term“connecting the recording medium to an networkable device” may mean thata CD is inserted into the CD burner/CD player so that data can be burnedonto the CD and data can be read from the CD. In case that the recordingmedium is already part of a networkable device like a EPROM chip in anetworkable handheld device, the term “connecting the recording mediumto a networkable device” means activating a physically already existingdata connection between the recording medium and computing functionalityof the networkable device.

Preferably, the application reads access information which is stored onthe recording medium and which is needed to access content to betransferred from the server to the recording medium. Access informationmay for example be internet address information, authenticationinformation (pass words, serial numbers (identifiers)), or the like. Theaccess information can be used to determine which amount and/or kind ofcontent may be transferred from the server to the recording medium.

Generally, the term “transferring” may for example mean a “normal”downloading process or a “direct” downloading (streaming) process. Ifthe transformation process of content from the server onto the recordingmedium is realized as a direct downloading process (streaming), parts ofa content item which have already been transferred from the server tothe networkable device are written onto the recording medium before allremaining parts of the content item have been transferred from theserver to the networkable device. In case of a normal downloadingprocess the complete downloaded data is stored as a whole on thenetworkable device (in a buffer) before the data is transferred to therecording medium. The direct downloading process shows the advantagethat it prevents piracy since the downloaded data is only bufferedportion by portion in the memory of the networkable device. The user ofthe PC would not be able to make unauthorized copies from the wholedownloaded data since the data is not stored as a whole on thenetworkable device.

If the networkable device is an internet capable device, a networksoftware like a browser or a FTP (file transfer protocol) software maybe installed on the networkable device. The browser can be used toestablish an internet connection between the internet capable device andthe server according to internet address information being containedwithin the access information. The network software may sendauthentication information being contained within the access informationto the server. The server receives the authentication information andinitiates an authentication procedure being executed on the server side.The authentication procedure denies access to at least some of thedownloadable content if the authentication information being sent to theserver does not match a predetermined authentication pattern stored orgenerated within the server.

Alternatively, the authentication procedure may also be performed withinthe internet capable device: the authentication procedure denies accessto at least some of the downloadable content if authenticationinformation being input by a user into the networkable device does notmatch authentication information being included with the accessinformation. In this case the user may get the authenticationinformation when buying the recording medium from the vendor.

Generally, the use of access information, in particular authenticationinformation enables a user to pay the price for downloading the contentvia the internet in advance: The user pays the price for the recordingmedium itself and the price for the content to be downloaded at oncewhen he is buying the recording medium. The vendor of the recordingmedium can then notify the server which offers the content to bedownloaded that a user trying to download content from the server usinga specific authentication information (which is stored on the recordingmedium and is sent to the server by the application later) is allowed todownload content. In case that the recording medium is a CD, theauthentication information may for example be an individual number beingembedded within the CD. If the server already “knows” all serial numbersof CDs which may be sold in future, the step of notifying the serverwhen a specific CD is sold is not necessary. If theft of CDs occurs,there is the possibility to disable this CDs (the serial numbers) at theserver, so that it is not possible to download content for thisrecording media. This aim can also be achieved if the access informationis stored on the recording medium only at the time of purchase.

Access information (authentication information; address information) maybe adapted to the users individual demands and be stored on therecording medium at the time of buying the recording medium. Forexample, if a user wants to buy a CD including eight classic musicpieces of Mozart, the access information (authentication information;address information) may be adapted from the vendor of the recordingmedium such that the user is automatically guided to a download platformor a part of the download platform comprising only classic music piecesof Mozart. For example, The access information (authenticationinformation; address information) is further adapted such that the useris allowed to download exactly eight pieces of classic music of Mozart.Thus, the client's individual demands are considered at the time ofpurchasing the recording medium in terms of individual accessinformation (authentication information; address information) created atthe time of buying the recording medium. Individual authenticationinformation can also be stored at the time of fabricating the CDs. Thevendor the sells the “right” CD to the user according to his demands.

As already mentioned, authentication information may be stored as data(preferably encrypted data) on the recording medium. Alternatively oradditionally, at least a part of it may be entered subsequently by auser. It may for example include information from a scratch-off panel onthe recording medium or its packaging. Authentication information orpart thereof may be stored on a separate data carrier such as a nearfield communication device (e.g. Felica™).

The access information may also be encrypted, i.e. comprise encryptedinternet address information and/or encrypted authenticationinformation. For example, a browser being installed on the networkabledevice may be provided by the application with an encrypted link beingembedded within the recording medium which cannot be decrypted by theuser, but which is nevertheless decryptable by the browser itself. Inthis case, the user would not know to which internet address he isguided. Therefore, authentication information would not be absolutelynecessary.

The server may create or change application specific status informationeach time when content is transferred or has been transferred from theserver onto the recording medium, the status information allowing theserver to decide how much content or which kind of content still isallowed to be transferred by a specific application from the server ontothe recording medium.

Preferably, the status information comprises a certain amount of creditor credit points specifying which amount or type of content is allowedto be transferred from the server onto the recording medium. The pointssystem can be realized as nominal points system which is suitable forovercoming currency fluctuations when the data carrier is distributedinternationally. Alternatively, the points system can be realized asactual monetary value point system. For example, the credit points mayrepresent a value of 40,00

. Content items may be priced at different levels. For example, in thecase of audio files, if more than ten tracks are downloaded in onesession, then a bonus track is free. Downloading a whole “album” may beoffered at a lower cost than downloading tracks individually.

The change of status information may comprise the step of decreasing theamount of credit or credit points stored within the server according tothe amount and type of transferred content.

Application specific initial status information may be prestored withinthe server or be generated according to the access information when thecorresponding application contacts the server for the first time:Consider the case where access information comprises no “direct” creditpoint information, however comprises a serial number. In this case, eachserial number may be assigned to a specific amount of credit pointsaccording to a look-up-table being prestored in the server andcomprising serial number-to-credit points assignments. When a specificapplication contacts the server, the server assigns the serial numberreceived to a specific amount of credit points while making use of thepre-stored look-up-table comprising serial number-to-credit pointsassignments. This assignment can be regarded as application specificinitial status information. The assignment described above makes itpossible to create groups of serial numbers, each serial number of onegroup being assigned to the same credit point value. The look up tablemay be generated by the producer of the recording media and suppliedboth to the server and the recording media vendor. The vendor then sellsthat recording medium to a user which comprises a serial numbercorresponding to the credit point value desired by the user.

Alternatively, the application may update the access information eachtime when content is transferred or has been transferred from the serveronto the recording medium, the updating of access information allowingthe application or the server to decide how much content or which kindof content still is allowed to be transferred from the server onto therecording medium. The update of access information may be done bychanging access information being stored on the recording medium, i.e.by changing the content of the recording medium.

The updating of access information may be initiated by the server whichnotifies the application each time when content is transferred from theserver onto the recording medium. The access information may comprise acertain amount of credit or credit points, wherein the amount of creditor the number of credit points specifies which amount or type of contentis allowed to be transferred from the server onto the recording medium.

The updating of access information may comprise the step of decreasingthe amount of credit or credit points stored on the recording mediumaccording to the amount and type of transferred content.

In a preferred embodiment, at least a part of the communication networkis the internet. However, the invention can be applied to any type ofnetwork or combination of networks.

The content to be downloaded may already be exactly specified by theaccess information being stored on the recording medium. For example,the access information may be adapted such that the user is only allowedto download one specific content item. Alternatively, the user may onlybe restricted as far as the amount of downloadable content or a generalclassification of downloadable content is concerned. In this case, theuser needs a content selection user interface enabling a user to selectspecific content items to be downloaded.

The content selection user interface may for example be an applicationwhich is executed on the server side or within the networkable device.Further, the content selection user interface may be an applicationbeing executed on the device comprising the recording medium, forexample on a MP2/3/4 player if said device has a suitable man machineinterface, for example a display. Using the content selection userinterface, it is possible to download content selected by the user.

The server may also comprise functionality to remember what type ofcontent has been downloaded in conjunction with a specific application(i.e. in conjunction with a specific authentication information like aserial number). Each time the specific application contacts the serveragain, the server proposes the user to download content which is similarin type. For example, if a user has downloaded only Mozart music so far,the server may suggest to download the newest available Mozart content.The server may for this purpose create a user profile for each specificapplication. Consequently, this user profile gets the more detailed themore often the application performs content download.

Further, the application and the server may provide the possibility to“preview” the content which is intended to be downloaded. For example, auser may have the possibility to hear a part of a song desired todownload or to watch a part of a video clip desired to download. Thekind and amount of the preview may be determined by preview informationbeing included within the access information. If a user is for examplewilling to pay a higher price for a recording medium, he may enjoybetter (longer) preview. In the same manner as described above, thepreview information may also be “included” within a serial number; eachserial number may therefore imply specific credit point information andspecific preview information. The preview content may be determined froma user profile (or a pool of user recommendations). Content related tothe user's selection may be promoted or advertised in this way. Thepreview content may include perceivable degradation. A user may, for afee, remove the perceivable degradation without having to re-downloadthe preview content. Suitable systems are for example described in EP1215907, WO03/067886, WO04023471 and EP1465157.

Each item of downloaded content may be protected by an algorithm thatprevents further copying. Algorithms that allow only a limited number offurther copies may be used. Each piece of content or the data carrieritself may be uniquely fingerprinted (by embedding imperceivableidentification data into the content). This allows tracking and/orpolicing of any illegally distributed copies of the content downloadedto the data carrier and made available e.g. over the internet.

The method for downloading content according to the present inventionprovides the following advantages: It is not necessary to select aspecific download platform since the access information being stored onthe recording medium automatically guides a user to a specific downloadplatform being suitable to download the content he desires. Further, theuser does not need to install software on his downloading device inorder to download the desired content, since this task is already doneby the application which is provided/stored on the recording medium andwhich is advantageously executed automatically upon connecting therecording medium to the networkable device. In addition, it is notnecessary to register, i.e. to transmit sensitive payment details viathe internet since the payment has already been done at the time ofbuying the recording medium. It is only necessary to transmit theauthentication information to the server, which, however, does not meanany risk for the user who wants to download content.

The present invention further provides a recording medium, comprising adata storage area having available data storage capacity, and anapplication which, upon connection of the recording medium with anetworkable device, can manage to establish a network connection betweenthe networkable device and a server being connectable to the networkabledevice by a communication network, and to transfer content from theserver to the data storage area.

The application may be a software program which is pre-stored within thedata storage area, and which can be read out of the data storage areaand be executed on the networkable device.

The application may be adapted to be activated automatically when therecording medium is connected to the networkable device.

The access information may be pre-stored within the data storage area,the access information being readable by the application and beingneeded to access downloadable content stored within the server.

The access information may determine which amount and/or kind of contentmay be transferred from the server during the transferring process.

The recording medium may be a recordable CD, a recordable DVD, a hybridCD, a recordable blue ray disk, a hard disk, a memory stick, a memorycard, a memory part of a MP 2/3/4 player, or the like.

The application may comprise graphical user interface software allowinga user to graphically control the application when the graphical userinterface is executed on the networkable device or the recording medium.

The application may be adapted to perform an authentication procedure onthe networkable device, the authentication procedure denying access toat least a part of the content to be transferred from the server ontothe recording medium if authentication information being input by a userinto the networkable device does not match authentication informationbeing included within the access information.

The access information may comprise encrypted internet addressinformation and/or encrypted authentication information.

The application may be adapted to activate a content selection userinterface enabling a user to select specific content items to betransferred from the server to the recording medium, wherein the kindand/or amount of content items is determined by authenticationinformation and/or internet address information included within theaccess information.

The application may be adapted to update the access information eachtime when content is transferred or has been transferred from the serveronto the recording medium, the updating of access information allowingthe application or the server to decide how much content or which kindof content still is allowed to be transferred from the server to therecording medium.

The application may be adapted to update access information being storedon the recording medium.

The application may be adapted to receive a notification from the serverinstructing the application to update the access information.

The access information may comprise a certain amount of credit or creditpoints, wherein the amount of credit or the number of credit pointsspecifies which amount or type of content is allowed to be transferredfrom the server onto the recording medium.

The application may be adapted to update access information bydecreasing the amount of credit or credit points stored on the recordingmedium according to the amount and type of transferred content.

The invention further provides a server being accessible via acommunication network, comprising:

-   -   means for storing content which is downloadable by a networkable        device from the server via the communication network,    -   means for creating or changing device specific status        information each time when content is transferred or has been        transferred from the server onto the device, the status        information allowing the server to decide how much content or        which kind of content still is allowed to be transferred by a        specific device from the server onto the device.

The server may comprise notifying means for sending a notification tothe networkable device, the notification specifying which amount or kindof content has already been transferred or is presently transferred tothe networkable device.

The status information and/or the notification may comprise credit orcredit point information, wherein the amount of credit or the number ofcredit points specifies which amount or type of content has already beentransferred or is presently transferred from the server to thenetworkable device.

The server may further show all features which have been discussed abovein the context of the method and the recording medium according to thepresent invention.

In a more general sense, the present invention further provides a backupmethod, the backup method transferring content from a computing deviceonto a recording medium, comprising the following steps:

a) connecting the recording medium to the computing device,

b) transferring content from the computing device onto the recordingmedium,

wherein step b) is managed by an application which is provided on therecording medium and which is activated or is activatable after saidrecording medium has been connected to the networkable device.

Advantage of this backup method is that the application manages thecomplete backup process (automatically or interactively) so that noadditional software for the backup process is needed.

The present invention further provides a computer program productcomprising computer program means adapted to perform the tasks of theapplication described above when it is executed on a computer, a digitalsignal processor, or the like.

For a better understanding of the invention, the invention will beexplained by way of example while making reference to the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a system suitable to perform themethod according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic drawing illustrating the invention in a largercontext.

In FIG. 1 a preferred embodiment of a system 1 suitable to perform themethod according to the present invention is shown. The system 1comprises a server 2, an networkable device 3 and a communicationnetwork 4 (internet) which connects the networkable device 3 with theserver 2.

The server 2 comprises a network connecting means 5, a content selectionmeans 6, an authentication means 7, and a database 8. The database 8comprises three different content parts A, B, and C. The networkconnecting means 5 connects the server 2 to the internet 4 and to thecontent selection means 6. The content selection means 6 is connected tothe authentication means 7 and to each of the content parts A, B, C ofthe database 8.

The networkable device 3 comprises a network connecting means 9, abrowser means 10, a processing means 11, an interface means 12 as wellas means 13 for connecting a recording medium 14 to the networkabledevice 3. The network connection means 9 connects the networkable device3 to the internet 4 and is also connected to the browser means 10, whichitself is connected to the processing means 11. The processing means 11is connected to the interface means 12 which is responsible forestablishing a connection between the networkable device 3 and therecording medium 14 via the connecting means 13.

In the following a preferred embodiment of the method according to thepresent invention will be described.

The user buys the recording medium 14 at a shop. The recording medium 14comprises an application section 15 in which an application is stored.Further, in the application section 15, access information includinginternet address information and authentication information is stored.The recording medium 14 further comprises a recording section 16 ontowhich content to be downloaded can be stored.

After having bought the recording medium 14, the user inserts therecording medium 14 into the networkable device 3. The interface means12 automatically reads out the application stored within the applicationsection 15 and inputs the application into the processing means 11. Theprocessing means 11 starts the application. The application reads outaccess information being stored within the application section 15 of therecording medium 14 and activates the browser means 10. The browsermeans 10 is automatically provided with the internet address informationbeing included within the access information and establishes an internetconnection via the network connection means 9 and the internet 4 to thenetwork connection means 5 of the server 2. The user uses the browsermeans 10 to communicate with the content selection means 6 in order toselect desired content to be downloaded from the database 8 onto therecording medium 14. The content selection means 6 may for examplelaunch a content selection application enabling the user to choosedesired content to be downloaded which is presented within a window ofthe browser means, for example. The content selection means 6 forwardsauthentication information being included within the access informationwhich has been sent from the browser means 10 to the content selectionmeans 6 to the authentication means 7. The authentication means 7 checkswhether the user is allowed to download the kind and/or amount ofcontent he desires. If, for example, the authentication informationmatches a predetermined authentication pattern being stored within theserver 2, the user is allowed to download content stored within thecontent part A. If the authentication information matches a differentauthentication pattern stored within the server 2, the user may beallowed to download content being stored within the content part B. Ifthe authentication information matches a further authentication patternstored within the server 2, the user may be allowed to download contentbeing stored within the content parts A and B. The application beingexecuted within the processing means 11 controls the downloading processof the content as well as the storing process of the downloaded contentonto the recording medium 14.

Advantage of the method described above is that the user has only toinsert the “prepaid” recording medium 14 into the networkable device 3and to choose desired content. The establishment of the internetconnection, the downloading process as well as the selection process ofcontent to be downloaded is completely managed by the applicationitself. Thus, content can be downloaded from a server with a minimum ofeffort.

FIG. 2 illustrates the present invention in a larger context: Recordingmedia are manufactured in a first step S1. The recording media aredelivered to a vendors shop 20 in a second step S2. A user decides atthe vendor's shop 20 how much and what type of content he wants todownload. According to his decision, in a third step S3, correspondingaccess information is stored on the recording medium. This accessinformation (or parts thereof) is supplied to a download server 21 in afourth step S4. Then, in a fifth step S5, the user connects therecording medium to a networkable device at the user's home 22, therebyautomatically supplying the access information (or parts thereof) to theserver 21 in a sixth step S6. The server 21 compares the accessinformation supplied from the vendor with the access informationsupplied by the user and enables the user to download correspondingcontent (S7).

In the following description, further aspects of the invention will bedescribed.

There are several known download mechanisms:

CD on Demand:

Certain online or retail services allow the user to select the contenthe wants on a disk via a kiosk or web interface and then deliver the CDwith package either directly in the retail store or ship it to theconsumer, after he has purchased the product.

n-CD:

n-CD is a technology which allows to individualize disks by putting aserial number onto each disk (PID), respectively. This number can thenbe read by software applications on a PC to allow various downloadprocesses/applications to be performed, including prepaid models. Thedisk is not recordable.

Download Platforms on the Internet:

After the user has decided for an internet download platform (iTunes™,Connect™, Napster™, . . . ), he usually needs to download and install aclient, register his user data and give sensitive payment details. Hethen can start downloading content, which is stored on the PCs harddisk. Content can then be burned on a CD-R or is transferred to aportable audio player.

The shortcomings of the download solutions described above are:

1) Very complex to use:

-   -   First a user needs to decide for a platform, which implicates        several consequences in terms of formats, drm, jukebox client        and supported hardware.    -   As a next step the user needs to download a proprietary jukebox        (20-60 MB) and install the software.    -   To be able to start downloading music, the user needs to        register.    -   the user needs to give sensitive payment details, such as credit        card number        2) Most download platforms offer hundreds of thousands of songs,        giving limited orientation to the user.        3) The downloaded content is stored on a hard disk only.

In contrast, according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, a small, individualized software client stored on arecordable media disk is automatically started when the disk is insertedinto a CD/DVD/BlueRay/HD burner and allows a user to easily selectvarious content items which are then downloaded and securely stored onthe same recordable disk (with or without copy protection). The samedisk can then be used in various consumer electronic devices (e.g. CD orDVD player). The solution provides the user more choice without imposingtechnical burdens to him. No registration, on-line payment or installingof software is required. In contrast, current solutions to downloadmedia over the internet are too complicated for mainstream users.Conventional CDs/DVDs, however, do not provide enough choice since theircontent is fixed in advance. That is, regular audio discs do not offerenough choice for an individual compilation of data for a user.

According to the present invention, downloading content without usingcomplicated search and payment technologies is possible. Further, awell-known and accepted key data carrier can be used.

As already mentioned, the advantages of the present invention are: easeof use, standard payment, no permanent storage on hard disk, more choicefor the consumer, anonymous, support of anti-piracy, individualwatermarking, optional copy protection onto the data carrier.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a smalland individual software client is stored on a recordable disk (CD-RCD-RW, Hybrid CD, DVD-R, DVD-RW, others). When the disk is entered intoa CD burner of a PC, the software starts automatically, presenting theuser with a simple user interface, showing a selection of content items,which he can choose to put on the same disk. After the user has selectedthe content items in this user interface, he can decide to complete thedisk for future usage. An internet connection is established (ideallybroadband), a unique CD code being embedded within the CD is verifiedand the requested content items are securely downloaded and burned onthe same disk. The disk can then be used in a PC or in other consumerelectronic devices (e.g. CD player, DVD player, PlayStation, . . . ) toenjoy the content. The disk is available in retail at several pricepoints, allowing the consumer to decide how many content items he wantson the disk. For example, the more expensive the disk is, the morecontent can be downloaded and stored onto the disk or the higher thequality of the content to be downloaded is. Different content items canbe priced at different points (e.g. chart music: 10 points, classicmusic: 5 points). The present invention gives more choice andpossibility to address specific target group segments (e.g. MTV monthly,Best of Mozart—“You Choose”).

Due to the present invention, it is very simple for a user to compile adisk comprising individual content: in a preferred embodiment only thefollowing steps are needed:

-   -   1. Buy ValueDisk in retail.    -   2. Insert disk in disk drive.    -   3. Select Content.    -   4. Use disk in PC and CE (Consumer Electronic) device.

It is also possible to suggest new content to be downloaded for a userby analyzing already downloaded content or by analyzing selected contentto be downloaded (user preference). For this purpose, the server may askthe user to specify personal data like address data or e-mail data whendownloading content for the first time. The present invention providesmore possibilities to control content (watermarking), preferably onlyone download per disk is performed.

Examples for the use of the invention are:

-   a) A radio station issues a music CD, which can be individually    assembled by the user which can individually select items from    various chart music titles, classic rock titles, and comedy or talk    frequencies.-   b) A label issues a best artist album, where the user can select    from all songs on every album ever made by this artist to compile    his personal CD.-   c) Value DVDs are sold in retail, with a collection of movies    displayed in the DVD booklet. A user selects a movie at home and the    movie is securely burned onto the sold DVD.-   d) The client is a backup program and user data is burned on the DVD    directly.

REFERENCE SYMBOLS

1 system

2 server

3 networkable device

4 communication network

5 network connection means

6 content selection means

7 authentication means

8 database

9 network connection means

10 browser means

11 processing means

12 interface means

13 connection means

14 recording medium

15 application medium

16 recording section

A, B, C content part

20 vendor's shop

21 server

22 user's home

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for receiving content via anetwork, the method comprising: establishing, by a network device, aconnection with a server via the network; storing, by the networkdevice, a currency balance on a recording medium of the network device;receiving, by the network device, the content from the server accordingto a streaming process such that parts of the content that have alreadybeen received from the server are written onto the recording medium, bythe network device, before all remaining parts of the content have beenreceived from the server; receiving, by the network device from theserver, a command to update the currency balance by a credit amountassociated with the received content; decreasing, by the network deviceaccording to the command, the stored currency balance by the creditamount; and storing, by the network device according to the command, thedecreased currency balance on the recording medium.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising: storing, by the networkdevice, access information on the recording medium, the accessinformation required to access the content stored on the server andincluding at least one of network address information and authenticationinformation.
 3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:accessing, by the network device, the content stored on the server,according to the access information, so as to receive the content fromthe server.
 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the networkdevice establishes the connection and receives the content according tothe access information, which includes the authentication information.5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising: receiving, bythe network device, a user input to provide at least a portion of theauthentication information.
 6. The method according to claim 3, furthercomprising: updating, by the network device, the access informationstored on the recording medium after the content is accessed bychanging, by the network device, the access information to indicate aspecific content that is allowed to be received from the server; andstoring, by the network device, the changed access information on therecording medium.
 7. The method according to claim 3, wherein the accessinformation identifies an amount or a type of content that may bereceived from the server during the receiving.
 8. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein the currency balance includes a type of content thatis allowed to be received from the server.
 9. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the recording medium is a recordable CD, a recordableDVD, a recordable blue ray disk, a hybrid CD, a hard disk, a memorystick, a memory card, or a memory part of a MP 2/3/4 player, phone,personal computer, or handheld device.
 10. A network device, comprising:circuitry configured to establish a connection with server via anetwork; store a currency balance on a recording medium; receive contentfrom the server according to a streaming process such that parts of thecontent that have already been received from the server are written ontothe recording medium, by the circuitry, before all remaining parts ofthe content have been received from the server; receive from the server,a command to update the currency balance by a credit amount associatedwith the received content; decrease, according to the command, thestored currency balance by the credit amount; and store, according tothe command, the decreased currency balance on the recording medium. 11.The network device according to claim 10, wherein the circuitry isfurther configured to store access information on the recording medium,the access information required to access the content stored on theserver and including at least one of network address information andauthentication information.
 12. The network device according to claim11, wherein the circuitry is further configured to access the contentstored on the server, according to the access information, so as toreceive the content from the server.
 13. The network device according toclaim 11, wherein the circuitry establishes the connection and receivesthe content according to the access information, which includes theauthentication information.
 14. The network device according to claim13, wherein the circuitry is further configured to receive a user inputto provide at least a portion of the authentication information.
 15. Thenetwork device according to claim 12, wherein the circuitry is furtherconfigured to: update the access information stored on the recordingmedium after the content is accessed by changing the access informationto indicate a specific content that is allowed to be received from theserver, and store the changed access information on the recordingmedium.
 16. The network device according to claim 12, wherein the accessinformation identifies an amount or a type of content that may bereceived from the server during the receiving.
 17. The network deviceaccording to claim 10, wherein the currency balance includes a type ofcontent that is allowed to be received from the server.
 18. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium storing executable instructionsthat, when executed by circuitry of a network device, cause thecircuitry to: establish a connection with a server via a network; storea currency balance on a recording medium; receive content from theserver according to a streaming process such that parts of the contentthat have already been received from the server are written onto therecording medium before all remaining parts of the content have beenreceived from the server; receive, from the server, a command to updatethe currency balance by a credit amount associated with the receivedcontent; decrease, according to the command, the stored currency balanceby the credit amount; and store, according to the command, the decreasedcurrency balance on the recording medium.